rate of suicide on record.

What leads to someone# suicide can be a mystery to loved ones because## they were reluctant to talk about their struggles.# Special correspondent Megan Thompson reports from## Wisconsin on the burdens farmers often have to# deal with and what's being done to help them.

BRENDA STATZ: Oh my that Buffy# tan they're so pretty.

I hear you.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): Days# start early for Brenda Statz.

BRENDA STATZ: Usually 4-4:30# a.m. wide awake so I get up,## get chores done usually do chores in the dark.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): Statz runs# this 300 acre farm in southwes with her two sons and her daughter in# law.

The farms been in the family for## 50 years.

Brenda's husband Leon# inherited it from his parents.

BRENDA STATZ: We met in 1981.

My senior# year of high school.

He just loved the kids,## love the farm, showing them how to farm.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): But farming is# a hard way to earn a living.

Brenda works a## second full time job in town to give# the family health insurance and extra## income.

After the birth of her second# son in 1989, Brenda left her job for a## while to care for the kids.

Leon and the# farm became their only source of income.

BRENDA STATZ: He told me that# one day he says if I fail,## we all fail.

And that's when his first bout# with depression started.

He couldn't function,## couldn't get up in the morning# couldn't get down to the barn.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): Leon# struggled on and for years the weight of running a# farm at times the Statz's sold their dairy herd and started# raising beef cattle.

But Leon came to regret it.

BRENDA STATZ: He said I should have kept# my cows.

I'm a failure.

I wasn't good at## farming even though we were financially we were# fine.

But his mind would not let him see that.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): In October# of 2018, Leon Statz took his own life.

BRENDA STATZ: Whether he's here or not,# somebody still had to get up the next day## and feed the cows.

Somebody had to get up# and do the chores.

The cro be harvested that year.

There's so much that# has to do you didn't have time to just MEGAN THOMPSON: Enough time to grieve really.

BRENDA STATZ: No.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voic than the general population according to# the National Rural Health Associ KAREN ENDRES, Farmer Wellness# Program Coordinator: Farmers## face really unique stres MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): Karen# Andres coordinates Wellness Programs## at the Wisconsin Farm Center, a state ag KAREN ENDRES: They are working in# very complex markets.

They are often## dealing with things like weather# that are out of their control.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): Endres says# most farms are run by families which can## cause conflict and stress at home.

Farmers# are also operating in isolated ru KAREN ENDRES: They can feel very alone like# they are on an island and they also have access## to a lot of things like large equipment,# firearms, things that can cause self-harm.

RANDY ROECKER, Wisconsin Dairy Farmer: Everybody# thinks farming is the red barns you know and the## white fences and things like that.

But# what goes on behind the scen constantly the stress you know of the markets,# animals get sick things happen.

Come on.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): Randy Roker runs# his family's dairy farm just a few miles from## Brenda Statz.

He says things are tough right now# for dairy farmers.

We're an d sky high costs for feed and fertilizer# will being paid a low price for their milk.

RANDY ROECKER: There we go all in.

We do such# a good job producing a wholesome product for## everybody.

And yet, we aren't even making# enough money to cover our cost of operating.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): Roecker's# grandparents started the farm in the 1930s when## Roecker took over, he invested millions of dollars# in a new barn and state of t RANDY ROECKER: So we completed that just in time# for 2008 when the worldwide financial crisis yet.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): Milk prices# tanked, and Roecker couldn't pay his bills.

RANDY ROECKER: I would get in the truck,# and I would drive out on our back 40 acre## field and sit in the truck and just cry.# I never thought depression would happen## to me.

But this financial struggle and# feeling that you're losing this legacy## that your grandfather started and it# just really played a lot with my mind.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): Roecker saw several# therapists but none were farmers themselves.

RANDY ROECKER: I went to so many different ones# and that one understood what I was going through.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): But after# about six years, Roecker recovered,## then came the death of his neighbor, Leon# Statz.

In his obituary, Leon's family w clear about what happened writing he passed# away after a long fought battle with depression.

BRENDA STATZ: And my kids and# I, when we wrote the obituary,## we all met at the funeral home and they says,# ne ed the reality check this happens.

We need to# own it.

And now where are we going from here.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): Randy Roecker who's## known Brenda since hig RANDY ROECKER: They overheard some# people talking about Leon.

And I said,## you just don't have any idea.

You don't# know what we're going through ou MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over):# Roecker and Statz felt they## needed to do something RANDY ROECKER: We're bringing# mental awareness into the light## and we're making it okay to talk about it.

BRENDA STATZ: Farmers can tell# a story about getting hurt,## or you know, whatever else is going on,# but to say that they're just in a re bad place.

They're really blue.

They just# can't get going.

They'll never admit that.

MEGAN THOMPSON: Why can't they admit that?

BRENDA STATZ: Becaus MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over):# To counter that stigma, Statz,## Roecker and their volunteers set up a b community and give talks to spread the# word about suicide prevention programs.

BRENDA STATZ: 988 is there as a support.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): And th BRENDA STATZ: We are not mental health people.

But# when I went through everything with Leon,# I didn't know of any resources at the time.

MAN: Welcome to Mental Health First Aid.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): Other groups in Wisconsin are teaching people who interact# with farme and intervene anyone from a neighbor# to veterinarians who visit the farm.

MAN: What you can do is say Bob,# I'm still concerned about what I've## noticed.

And I want you to know that# I'm available to talk to you anytime.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): And at the Wisconsin# Farm Center, Karen Endres helps get farmers## vouchers to cover the cost of counseling, and# help locating therapists to like Megan W MEGAN WOLF, Therapist: Karen# will call me and she'll ask hey,## do you have room for and then# ME GAN THOMPSON (voice-over):# Wolf also grew up on a hog farm.

MEGAN WOLF: I definitely think having a# farming background helps b immediately.

Right?

You don't have to# explain it to me, MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): Wolf understands# a farmer's schedule and stays flexible.

MEGAN WOLF: If they have a go day like their# crop is ready, that means thei is happening.

And you have to be okay with that# as a therapist.

A rainy day like today it's a## great day for me to connect with some of my# farmers, especially if you have telehealth.

One of the things that I know# that you've struggled with lately.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): Wolf says telehealth# is n especially in small towns where# everyone seems to know everybody.

MEGAN WOLF: A lot of times we find also# that telehealth reduces the stigma the shame of maybe walking into a# building where people know that oh,## that's the therapist.

A lot of my farmers# I see are not even in southwest Wisconsin.## I don't know them.

I don't know# their family.

They don't know me.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): And with# the vouchers the state of Wisconsin## offers an appointment with Wolf KA REN ENDRES: The demand for vouchers# has grown tremendously.

Last year,## we had a record high.

We# paid for 217 appointments.

MEGAN THOMPSON: What do you think# explains that increasing demand?

KAREN ENDRES: I think awareness.

MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): Brenda Statz,## Randy Roec BRENDA STATZ: I don't want Leon's death# and his life to be meaningless.

What we## went through together has taught me# so much that if I can pass that on to## someone else who's struggling# and trying to find their way,## maybe it'll give them hope that there is help# out there.

You don't hav MEGAN THOMPSON (voice-over): For PBS News Weekend,# I'm Megan Thompson in Logan Ville, Wisconsin.

JOHN YANG: If you or someone you# know is having thoughts of suicide,## call or text the National Suicide Prevention# Lifeline at 988 or go onli